085 - Big Wing Tankers
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- Опубліковано 19 лис 2024
- When aircraft designers and military planners sought a simple way to extend the range, increase the payload, and lengthen the endurance of combat aircraft, they may have been inclined to consider a host of various technological solutions. In fact, the best way to accomplish these endeavors is through aerial refueling with big wing tankers like the KC-135 Stratotanker, KC-10 Extender, and forthcoming KC-46 Pegasus.
On this episode, retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Mark “Sluggo” Hasara joins us to discuss the history, practical applications, and strategic implications of big wing tankers. As a 25-year veteran with over 5,000 flight hours in the KC-135, Sluggo literally “wrote the book” on big wing tanking and was instrumental in the creation of the U.S. Air Force tanker Weapons School. Be sure to check out his Wall Pilot Facebook page and the bonus content where Sluggo spends another 52 minutes answering listener questions.
Episode music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Clint Bell / artwork by Janek Krause. This episode was produced by our friends at The Muscle Car Place Podcast Network.
Can we just talk about how awesome these thumbnails always are?
We surely can! They are courtesy of Australian Janek Krause. He puts his heart and soul into each one.
Fact.
Can’t wait to share this podcast with my Dad ... He was a boom operator on KB-29’s & KC-97’s ... long, long ago!
Thank him for all of us. 👍
I love that other communities are getting some love!
Can’t go anywhere without fuel
@@williamkillingsworth2619 But you can go anywhere with Snickers.
I have not listened to this, yet I am excited, and can't wait. I am learning that some of my favorite episodes have nothing to do with fighters, I am always gobsmacked with how interesting other aircraft (non-fighter's) are.
Interesting that you say that, Tracy. Some of our 'off topic' episodes have been well received.
I'm glad FPP covered tankers
and I'm glad you got ahold of Hasara :)
looking forward to this episode!
Loved this episode! Sluggo is great, hope to hear from him again!
jesus this thumbnail is just awesome
love the stuff guys, I am a 16 year old fan from the Netherlands and have listened to and loved every single second of every single episode. keep up this great work you're doing, props to the team!
Excellent. Welcome!
The Navy using the drogue makes sense from a logistical standpoint. You couldn't easily add a boom to existing Navy aircraft. Remember that hook in the way ? Adding another specialized airframe to the wing would take up valuable space and maintainance hours. The simplest solution from logistics to maintaining and space is to slap a drogue on what's available. Just my 2 cents. Another great episode. Awesome to hear from someone that appreciates and enjoys their mission. Makes for great listening. Thank again fighter pilot podcast.
Love the tankers live near Travis AFB seeing KC-10’s coming and goings. This podcast is my favorite thanks Jello
Surely, DW, thanks for the feedback.
Read Sluggo's book, Tanker Pilot: Lessons from the Cockpit. I grew up just off the base he was stationed at (Pease) and have been watching KC-135A's to R's and now the KC-46's. This was a great read. A lot of what he speaks of in this interview are more detailed in the book. I really enjoyed both.
Thanks for the feedback, Dave.
Cheers Jello, another great podcast. Sluggo was fantastic...a great character.
As always...Cheers from Australia.
..."now let's get out of here" !
Sluggo is a good dude, proud to have worked for him!
-Mongrel
509WPS Boomer
I experienced the capability of the KC-10 in the 90's. Full cabin. Full cargo, and fuel to Hawaii with 4 planes in tow. The view from the boom operator position was unbelievable.
Thank you Jello what a fantastic episode. The RAAF KC-30 is called Dragon. I’m glad the KC-135 still has some life left in it love see those when they come to town. Enjoy your break. Thanks for sharing 👍🏻👍🏻🙃🙃
Sure thing, Mat. 🤩
Hope you have him back again. Great topic and speaker.
He mentions tanking the prowler in operation northern watch, its pretty cool because around that time we checked into VAQ-209 at Andrew's AFB and within 2 weeks checking in they went to participate in operation nortern watch. I'd like to think this was on of the prowler he refueled.
I'm glad that some of the 4 or 5 channels that now do the "Professional X reviews Y movies" are reaching out to you!
That was an unsuspected super fun episode. Usually you don't hear as many fun facts but this one had a lot of interesting stuff in it!
Love the acknowledgement of the Airbus A330 MRTT cornering the market and winning the US contract before Boeing thew a hissy fit. I was working for Airbus when the MRTT was under initial production.
Worked in the KC 135 engine shop at Westover AFB in 71-72 and tdy to Kadena AFB worked flightline on As and Qs in 72. Got to fly on a KC 135 from Westover to Kadena with cargo in the middle 25 of us on the sides and poker games going on on the cargo in 72
I enjoyed listening to this podcast with my cup of tea. 🍵
Good to know!
Just a minor correction regarding to the Taiwanese Mirages you mentioned at 5:40 ： They're not getting replaced by F-16Vs, F-16Vs are intended to replace our aging F-5E/F Tiger IIs
Heres a link ：focustaiwan.tw/politics/201905030023
Our military thinks that the high altitude capabilities of the Mirages cannot be carried on by F-16s (which are more comfortable at lower altitudes)
The Mirages will be replaced by a different aircraft that has yet to be decided
Ah, good to know, thank you.
i work in IT, i'll never have any job with fighter jets (Top Gun being my fave movie - yeah I'm that guy), but damn I love your podcast! :)
This podcast is for you, DaveOz!
@@FighterPilotPodcast thankyou! I can be your Wingman, anytime!
Awesome that VF filmed that!!
An episode about the Air Force's electronic / surveillance planes would be interesting. I would love to hear about what the RC-135, E-8 JSTARS, etc actually do. Always see them in the news...
I imagine the guest would have to speak in broad terms as much of their missions are classified.
@@FighterPilotPodcast 160th SOAR episode?
I’m curious, how, if at all, does the 3rd engine at the base of the vertical stabilizer on the kc-10 affect mid-air refueling, does it make it harder to stay on the boom?
Not for small airplanes like fighters.
Delayed reply for you, it really only effects the T-Tail guys (C-5/C-17), and it's really a cause major adverse handling qualities. - KC-10 Boom Operator
There is a kc135/707 here in Saint Louis right now, training w the new T7 I am assuming
What an awesome comprehensive view of a boomer. What would Curtis Lemay think? The fundamentals of the boomer waypoints and timeline to make multiple missions and detailed objectives flow.
I can see without the mission planners (our true strength of multiple instituions) we would be void of the strength of those multiple missions.
A story recalled echos of a female voice mid Atlantic to all of the quarantined MH130 crew flying the midnight sun, her voice echoing soft and inspired words of a boomer, "Fill her up"!
Another question to F15 pilot what happens when a tanker is challenged, said, "there is not a fighter pilot who would hesitate to give his life for the boomers."
Nobody kicks a** without tanker gas!
Man for those that butthurt with that opening get a life. Jello you said nothing wrong there some people just go way out of the way to be offended by something.
The refueling pod timeline he gives for the KC-10 is incorrectly stated as 1999...the first KC-10 with pods rolled off the assembly line as a 1987 model...87-0124...it was the last KC-10 built and the only one to be outfitted with pods from the factory...19 more of the KC-10s were outfitted with pods during scheduled Depot maintenance over the course of a decade or so...
Chris Hofrichter/ KC-10 hydraulic technician/crew chief 1994-2009.
Someone plz correct me if I am wrong but didn't the KC-135 come before the Boeing 707, both of which are based on the Dash-80?
huehuehue passing gas
he even said "we don't want to blow you off" wahaha
Can you do an episode on army aviation
An episode? We're doing a whole month! Just hold that thought a little longer...
Yay thank you
Will civilian contractor tankers be used in a war time scenario or just in peacetime?
I believe just peacetime but would need to ask my Omega friends...
Can please you do an episode on Sukhoi Su 30 (MKI) ?
Sure. Got a pilot in mind?
@@FighterPilotPodcast Air Marshal Harish is the best person to ask :). I am learning more about the IAF from you than any Indian UA-cam channel. Thanks!!
Should have got Senior Airman Patricia Leyman to talk about tankers! 😂
🤣
Hi ! What do you think about Squadron 303 movie?
Have not seen it.
I was wondering why the USAF would choose the 767 instead of the 777 as the next tanker? The 777 is newer, bigger, and a United pilot friend of mine says that it uses less runway then the 767.
The USAF didn't choose the 767 they chose the Airbus A330 mrtt. But Boeing used all the politicians they bribed to force the air force to buy an aircraft they didn't want and that still doesn't work. And the dozens that have already been delivered are useless until at least 2021 but will probably not be operational until 2023.
no, they are not interested in range, or they never would have made the same mistake thrice with hornet, super hornet & lighting...
Enjoy your break Jello 🤙🏼
Oh, we'll be working on other stuff, but thanks!
The Fighter Pilot Podcast awesome, I genuinely look forward to them , it’s just some great chill out time. Keep up the great work
just watched your interview on VF I mean vanity fair, really well done. You have an excellent presence on camera and your voice is good- you should have a massive channel. Thinking you would have a lot more views if you put your mug on cam more, don't get me wrong- I'm a married man (to a woman) however, whatever. You just should be featured more on the tube cause you're good.
Respects from Maine USA.
Read up on the air refuelling of the “Black Buck” raid during the Falklands War
Something like 15 Victor tankers to refuel 1 Vulcan bomber
Yep. Read ‘Vulcan 607’ after this interview, amazing.
@@FighterPilotPodcast it’s on the list :)
Excellent podcast … incredibly informative
How about C-5’s and C-17’s oh and C-141’s
They never made tankers out of those.
@@FighterPilotPodcast I know how bout interviews with those crews
@@jonathanplank2029 Oh.
Yeah, hopefully--just have to find the right guests.
you could just do a split screen with your face and mic on one side and it would be that much more engaging. ? Out.
Can I be critical without coming across as rude? This episode seemed like a bunch of words that never found a topic.
Constructive criticism is always gladly accepted.
I agree with this. It was kind of all over the place....had too stop it. I understand people are proud of what they did...but this guy was....I don't know....not a guy I would have a beer with. Different strokes and all that.
Seemed fine to me. Genuinely interesting interview. I thought it'd be boring. One of the best FPP episodes - particularly of the 'non-fighter' episodes, in my opinion.